Indoor training is a very efficient way to train, and its popularity continues to grow not only with professional athletes, but with endurance athletes of all levels.
The benefits of indoor training are numerous and go beyond just being able to work out regardless of the weather. Your indoor workouts are no longer dependent on daylight, whether you are an early bird or a night owl. Let it be cold and wet wintery days or mid-afternoon sweltery summertime — your training can still go on (not to mention the safety factor of not having to worry about cars). Additionally, indoor cycling platforms like TrainingPeaks Virtual make indoor training more accessible and more fun, so you can keep making progress year-round.
If you need to manage your time efficiently, having all necessary equipment at hand — in your home or basement, for example — is a great advantage, and will give you more freedom to conduct your workout around the time most convenient to you. Below are three different versions of and indoor training setup for the beginner, the intermediate and the advanced indoor training athlete.
Beginner Indoor Training Setup
The first step in indoor training is riding your own bike indoors at home. To do that you only need a cheap indoor trainer and perhaps a TV or music to make it a little bit more entertaining. One of the major benefits is that you have the possibility to ride on your own bike and that you will get used to riding with aero bars and in your optimal aero position.
Intermediate Indoor Training Setup
If you want to maximize the positive effects of your training time, you should use a smart trainer with the option of using an ERG mode (load restricted) option. ERG modes are helpful for hitting specific power targets, for example during intervals, however, I don’t recommend to use the ERG mode all the time.
You can also simply use an indoor trainer with a power meter on your bike. You or your coach can use the TrainingPeaks structured workout builder to quickly and easily create structured workouts based on distance or duration and intensity using power.
If you want to make your training even more entertaining, you can use one of the following indoor cycling apps, like TrainingPeaks Virtual or Zwift®, explained here in detail. TrainingPeaks Virtual is included with TrainingPeaks Premium and syncs seamlessly to TrainingPeaks.
Advanced Indoor Training Setup
Riding your bike indoors is great, but if you have the possibility to get a good treadmill as well it makes your indoor training space truly professional. You are no longer bound to daylight or weather conditions for your bike and run workouts, and you don’t even have to leave your house to do a highly effective workout session, which is particularly great for the time-crunched athlete. The addition of a treadmill even makes multiple brick sessions possible and you can practice quick and efficient transitions as well.
If you find space in your apartment or house to fix a suspension trainer, you can even do all your strength and core workouts inside. If your budget allows, you also have the possibility today to use a counter-current system, such as an Endless Pool, like fellow pro triathlete Lionel Sanders who does the vast majority of his training indoors.
Tip: Build Your Indoor Setup Over Time
If your budget is a consideration, simply start with a simple trainer and build your indoor space as time and money allow. Even a simple trainer is a wise investment to help you conduct more effective, intensity-focused sessions that don’t depend on weather, daylight or traffic concerns.
